Tributes have streamed in online for former Stellenbosch mayor and Die Burger’s first reporter of colour, Conrad Sidego, who died last Thursday, 2 April, at the age of 73.
Sidego’s brother, Peter Sidego, confirmed with News24 that he died following a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Amy Sidego, and his two sons. Sidego served as mayor of Stellenbosch from 2011 to 2016.
Conrad Sidego. PHOTO: Stellenbosch Municipality
Legacy in Stellenbosch and beyond
“I had the privilege to know him well when he was the mayor,” said Gesie van Deventer, current Stellenbosch Mayor, in an official statement on 3 April. Sidego left an amazing legacy in Stellenbosch, said Van Deventer, in the statement.
According to Chris Whelan, director of The Transformation Initiative and former colleague and friend of Sidego, the former mayor left behind “a legacy of boundaries stretched, of goals achieved and of impacts made that few may be fully aware of.”
In a tribute published on the DA’s website, Dr. Ivan Meyer, federal chairperson of the Democratic Alliance, (DA) said that it was under Sidego’s leadership and vision that Stellenbosch grew into, what he believes, is one of the best-run municipalities in the country.
“During his tenure as mayor, Stellenbosch received its first clean audit in years,” said Meyer.
The rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), prof Wim de Villiers, expressed his appreciation for his long-standing friendship with Sidego, as well as Sidego’s dedication to community interest and relief to those in need, in an official statement on 3 April.
According to De Villiers, the former Stellenbosch mayor was “the driving force behind meaningful collaborative initiatives between SU and the Stellenbosch municipality.”
Sidego was appointed as a South African ambassador to Denmark, in 1991. It was during this time that he met Laura Lykkegaard, who is now the Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassador for South Africa.
“He was a true South African with an enormous heart. If we are all [attentive], kind and compassionate like Conrad was, we will go far as a nation,” Lykkegaard told MatieMedia. Lykkegaard posted a tribute to Sidego on Facebook:
Legacy of inclusivity in South Africa
Sidego believed in building an inclusive, non-racial South Africa for all, said Meyer. Sidego was Die Burger’s first reporter of colour and used this position to advocate for more diversity and inclusivity in the newsroom, he said.
Former colleague and friend of Sidego for over 30 years, Christine Botha, said that Sidego was her mentor during her work running one of the first affirmative action projects against inequality in South Africa.
The Sidego family publicly thanked all those who have sent them messages and photographs of Sidego. At the time of publishing, no memorial or funeral arrangements had been announced by the family.
This article was updated on 7 April 2020 to include rector and vice-chancellor of SU, prof Wim de Villiers’ comment.